Flare-dispensing and igniting apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus adapted to be supported on a vehicle for storing an ignitable safety flare, dispensing the flare to deposit the same on the road, and in the process of dispensing the flare causing the same to be ignited. In one embodiment of the invention a plurality of flares are stored in a rotatable turret or magazine. The latter is rotatable to position sequential flares at a discharge station with a metal conductor pin extending through the flare serving as the sole support for the flare. Sending an electrical current through such a pin causes the pin to heat up, ignite the powder in the flare, and simultaneously, due to the melting of the pin, results in the dropping of the ignited flare from the storage magazine.

United States Patent [72] lnventor [54] FLARE-DISPENSING AND lGNlTlNGAPPARATUS 9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 89/L5 R,

102/37.4, l02/37.8 [51] Int. Cl. F411 5/00 [50] Field of Searchl02/37.4,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,751,582 6/1956 Kuykendalll02/37.4 X 2.864311 12/1958 Loedding 102/378 3.055.269 9/1962 Clark etal. 102/374 X Primary Examiner Robert F. Stahl Attorney-Harris ZimmermanABSTRACT: An apparatus adapted to be supported on a vehicle for storingan ignitable safety flare, dispensing the flare to deposit the same onthe road, and in the process of dispensing the flare causing the same tobe ignited. In one embodiment of the invention a plurality of flares arestored in a rotatable turret or magazine. The latter is rotatable toposition sequential flares at a discharge station with a metal conductorpin extending through the flare serving as the sole support for theflare. Sending an electrical current through such a pin causes the pinto heat up, ignite the powder in the flare, and simultaneously, due tothe melting of the pin, results in the dropping of the ignited flarefrom the storage magazine.

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sum 3 or 3 ATTORNEY FLARE-DISPENSING AND IGNITING APPARATUS BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION Most highway safety experts urge that the drivers ofall vehicles keep a supply of safety flares in their vehicles so that inthe event of a stalled vehicle or other emergency, one or more flaresmay be ignited and placed on the roadway to give warning to oncomingmotorists. Heretofore, it has been the customary practice for the driverto stop his vehicle, take a flare from the trunk or other part of thevehicle where the flare is stored, strike the flare igniter, and thenplace the ignited flare in the appropriate position on the road. Thistype of procedure is not only time consuming, but normally requires theperson placing the flare to leave his vehicle and expose himself to thedanger of being struck by some moving vehicle. Even in those cases wherea person attempts to ignite the flare while remaining in the vehicle,there exists the possibility of damage being caused to the interior ofthe vehicle and if the flare is dropped to the road surface, it mightwell roll from the location on which it was initially dropped.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In broad terms, the apparatus of the presentinvention is adapted to be attached to a vehicle, and is arranged todrop one or more flares in an ignited condition onto a desired locationon a roadway, without requiring the driver to leave his vehicle. Meansare provided on the flares to prevent their rolling on the ground.Additionally, and as an important feature of the invention, no flare canbe discharged until and unless ignition has taken place, and conversely,there is no danger that an ignited flare will remain in the apparatuswithout being discharged.

THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a side-elevational view of the apparatus of thepresent invention shown in the process of dispensing an ignited flare.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic wiring diagram illustrating the electricalpower supply for energizing a solenoid and for igniting the flare.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the theapparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The apparatus of the presentinvention, generally indicated by the numeral 12, is adapted to receive,store, ignite and dispense a safety flare 14. The flare 14 is modifiedfrom a conventional flare by adding a flare cap 16 to the lower end ofthe flare body 18. As shown in FIG. 1, the lower end of the conventionalflare body is provided with an igniter portion 20. The cap 16telescopically engages such lower end and is provided with a pin 22extending transversely through the cap immediately adjacent the igniter20 and projecting outwardly from diametrically opposed portions of thecap. The pin is formed of metal and serves as an electrical conductorfor reasons presently to be explained, while the cap may be formed ofplastic or other nonconducting material. Extending from the upper openend of the cap are a pair of tabs or wings 24 which normally assume thespread position shown in the drawings, but which may be urged into anaxial position when the flare is placed in the dispensing apparatus. Thepurpose of the tabs 24, which are aligned with the outwardly extendingpin portions, is to prevent rolling of the flare when the latter isdropped onto a road or other surface. Also, the lower end of the cap isprovided with a downwardly projecting lug 25 to be later discussed.

The apparatus 12 generally includes a rotary turret magazine 26 forreceiving a plurality of flares 14, a bottom plate 28 through which theflares may be sequentially dispensed, a flare supporting and ignitingmechanism 30, a

solenoid 32 for effecting an advance of the flares to the dischargeposition, and a cover 34 overlying the magazine and the flares disposedtherein.

The magazine 26 is of generally cylindrical configuration and is mountedon baseplate 38 for rotation about a vertical axis. More particularly,the magazine is provided with an axial bore in which a stud 36 extends.The stud is fixed to the plate 28 and attached to the stud is one end ofa spring 38, the other end 40 of the spring being seated in a slot 42formed in the bottom of the magazine. With the spring end 40 seated inthe slot, the magazine may be rotated about the stud 36 against thespring pressure, and the latter will urge the magazine to becontrarotated so that the flares may be sequentially dispensed.

The upper end of stud 36 extends through an aperture 44 in the cover,and a nut 46 is used to secure the various components together.

Provided in magazine 26 in circumferentially spaced relation are aplurality of vertically disposed bores 48 into which the flares 14 maybe loaded. Each bore is provided with diametrically opposed slots 50 forreceiving the projecting ends of pin 22 and preventing rotation of theflares in their respective bores. With the flares loaded in themagazine, the lugs 25 will be supported on the upper surface 52 of plate28.

Plate 28 is provided with a flare discharge opening 54 generallyconforming to the size and shape of the bores and slots in the magazineand successively registrable with the latter upon magazine rotation.Also provided in plate 28 is an arcuate slot 56 over which the axes ofbores 48 pass during magazine rotation. With the magazine loaded withflares and manually rotated against spring pressure, the lug 25 of theleading flare cap will be disposed in slot 56 and under the influence ofspring 38 will engage the end 58 of the slot and thereby prevent furtherrotation. The magazine is provided with a blank area 60 which willoverlie the discharge opening 54 at this time.

The dispensing of the flares may now be considered in connection withthe function of solenoid 32 which is attached to the lower surface ofplate 28 by bolts 62 or the like. The solenoid is provided with an axialplunger 64 normally maintained in a downward extended position by aspring 66. Energization of the solenoid causes a retraction of theplunger and a resulting upward movement of a rod 68, the latter havingan angular extension 70 attached to the plunger. Rod 68 is slidablymounted in a racket 72 carried on the solenoid housing and is alignedwith the baseplate slot against the end 58 thereof. Consequently, upwardmovement of the rod will engage the flare lug 25 and raise the flare,freeing the magazine for rotation until the next succeeding flare lugengages the slot and is stopped at the slot end 58. During thissequential rotation under the influence of the spring 38, the releasedflare will be aligned with the plate discharge opening 54 and commencedropping therethrough.

The flare, although free to drop through the aperture 54, is halted fromcomplete release as the pin 22 engages the flare supporting and ignitingmechanism 30. AS best seen in FIG. 4, this mechanism comprises atwo-piece annular housing 76 attached to the lower surface of baseplate28 by means of lugs 78 and in alignment with discharge opening 54.Disposed on diametrically opposed portions of the inner wall of thehousing 76 are a pair of carbon brushes 80, each of generally V-shapedconfiguration defining a vertical slot 82 for receiving the pins 22. Thebrushes are formed with a maximum slot width and depth adjacent theirupper ends, into which the pin may readily drop. The slots then have asmaller spacing relative to each other so that the pin will be halted inits downward movement, and accordingly prevent the flare from fallingthrough the housing and onto a road surface or the like.

To prevent such release and an igniting of the flare, suitableelectrical conductors 84 are connected to the opposed brushes. Whencurrent is thus applied to the brushes, assuming a pin 22 is extendingbetween the brushes, an electrical current is carried in the pin 22, itbecomes heated to a temperature sufficient to melt the same, and withthe pin melted,

IOIOI5 mm:

the flare is free to drop through the housing 76. Simultaneously, theheating of the pin which is in substantial contact with the flareigniter portion will cause an ignition of the flare. In this manner,because the passing of the current through pin 22 effects both ignitionof the Hare and the dispensing thereof, one cannot occur without theother.

As will be understood, the present apparatus may be mounted in the trunkor on any other portion of the vehicle, so long as the lower end ofhousing 76 is open to the ground. In FIG. 3, a simple electrical diagramis illustrated wherein operations for a switch 86 disposed for examplein the drivers compartment closes a first circuit 88 leading to solenoid32 for actuation hereof. The leads 84 to the brushes 80 may bypass theswitch entirely since no current flow is possible until the pin 22 spansthe two brushes and completes the circuit.

I claim:

1. Apparatus of the character described for igniting a safety flarehaving an electrical conducting pin extending transversely therethrough,a pair of spaced opposed electrical conducting elements having meansthereon for engaging and supporting opposite end portions of a flare pinwith a flare in vertical position whereby a current maybe passed betweensaid elements with the flare pin serving as a conductor, the spacing ofsaid elements permitting a flare to gravitally drop therebetween uponmelting of the flare pin.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said elements comprisecarbon brushes having opposed vertically extending pin-receiving slotstherein, the slots on the respective brushes having a maximum spacingtherebetween adjacent the upper ends thereof and a lesser spacingtherebeneath.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including a member overlying saidelements having a vertical bore therein for receiving a flare, means forsupporting said flare in said bore,

and release means for removing said support whereby the flare maygravitally move towards said elements for engagement of the flare pinthereby.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 in which said supporting meansincludes a horizontally disposed plate having a flare discharge aperturetherein in overlying aligned relation to said elements, said flarereceiving bore being normally spaced from said aperture, and saidrelease means effecting movement of said bore into alignment with saidelements.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 in which said plate has anelongated slot therein in spaced relation to said aperture with saidslot being adapted to receive an end of a flare disposed in said memberbore, and said release means including an element movable upwardly intosaid slot for lifting a flare end out of same.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which a solenoid is operativelyconnected to said lifting element for activating the latter.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which said member is providedwith a plurality of circumferentially spaced bores, means mounting saidmember for axial rotation on aid plate, and means normally urgingunidirectional rotation of said member so that successive bores will bealigned with said slot when the preceding bore is aligned with saiddischarge opening.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 in which said bore includes acylindrical portion and diametrically opposed slots extending outwardlytherefrom for receiving the flare pin.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 in which said plate dischargeaperture has a matching cross-sectional configuration to that of saidbore.

t t IF

1. Apparatus of the character described for igniting a safety flarehaving an electrical conducting pin extending transversely therethrough,a pair of spaced opposed electrical conducting elements having meansthereon for engaging and supporting opposite end portions of a flare pinwith a flare in vertical position whereby a current maybe passed betweensaid elements with the flare pin serving as a conductor, the spacing ofsaid elements permitting a flare to gravitally drop therebetween uponmelting of the flare pin.
 2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in whichsaid elements comprise carbon brushes having opposed verticallyextending pin-receiving slots therein, the slots on the respectivebrushes having a maximum spacing therebetween adjacent the upper endsthereof and a lesser spacing therebeneath.
 3. Apparatus as set forth inclaim 1 including a member overlying said elements having a verticalbore therein for receiving a flare, means for supporting said flare insaid bore, and release means for removing said support whereby the flaremay gravitally move towards said elements for engagement of the flarepin thereby.
 4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 in which saidsupporting means includes a horizontally disposed plate having a flaredischarge aperture therein in overlying aligned relation to saidelements, said flare receiving bore being normally spaced from saidaperture, and said release means effecting movement of said bore intoalignment with said elements.
 5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 inwhich said plate has an elongated slot therein in spaced relation tosaid aperture with said slot being adapted to receive an end of a flaredisposed in said member bore, and said release means including anelement movable upwardly into said slot for lifting a flare end out ofsame.
 6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which a solenoid isoperatively connected to said lifting element for activating the latter.7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which said member is providedwith a plurality of circumferentially spaced bores, means mounting saidmember for axial rotation on aid plate, and means normally urgingunidirectional rotation of said member so that successive bores will bealigned with said slot when the preceding bore is aligned with saiddischarge opening.
 8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 in which saidbore includes a cylindrical portion and diametrically opposed slotsextending outwardly therefrom for receiving the flare pin.
 9. Apparatusas set forth in claim 8 in which said plate discharge aperture has amatching cross-sectional configuration to that of said bore.